Architects and contractors keep blaming each other for delays in the renovation of the El Paso County Sportspark in far East El Paso.

The $7.5 million project was supposed to have been completed in August.

On Monday, representatives of Sunlight Enterprises, the company awarded the job, went before Commissioners Court to oppose a request made by the architects for $100,485 more. As part of this project, the county has a $531,500 contract with the architect firm, Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, Inc.

Because Sunlight Enterprises has not completed the overall project, Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, Inc, wants the county to pay it extra for additional services, a county document shows.

Lawyer Juan Carlos Garay, who represents Sunlight Enterprises, said the company does not mind if the county wants to pay more to the architects, but their problem is that Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, Inc, is blaming them for the delay of the project.

"If the purpose of payment to the architects is based on fault on our part, we are here to dispute that," Garay told the court. "It's not our fault."

Garay said some of the delays were caused by the architects. No details about the delays were released.

Court members postponed taking any action on the request after the issue was discussed in executive session.

Representatives of Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, Inc., were not at the meeting.

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All of the renovations at the Sportspark were supposed to have been finished in the summer, but Sunlight Enterprises was granted an extension in August.

Though a portion of the 45-acre park opened to the public earlier this year, there are still areas like the restrooms, the clubhouse and the four main fields that still need to be completed, Commissioner Carlos Leon said.

Leon, who represents the area, said the county is not taking sides on the dispute between the contractor and the architects. However, the dispute is delaying the project, he said.

"We are hoping that no later than Christmas it'll be completed," Leon said.